Education Day at EXPO 2025: Czechia to Present Excellence in Higher Education, Research, and Innovation in Osaka
On July 25, Czech universities will present the full breadth of their offerings to an international audience at the World EXPO in Osaka, Japan. The Education Day (EDU Day), following the Czech National Day, is organised by the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS) under the Study in Czechia initiative, in cooperation with the Czech participation at EXPO 2025. The event will provide a platform to showcase the quality of Czech universities, cutting-edge research, and a strong innovation environment.
The presentation of Czechia’s high-quality and inclusive higher education system will be led by representatives of Czech universities, including rectors, vice-rectors and international office staff. Universities from across the country will bring a diverse range of academic disciplines to Osaka, from technical and natural sciences to medicine, social sciences, humanities and the arts. For these institutions, the event offers a unique opportunity to meet Japanese partners in person, build on existing projects and open new avenues for cooperation.
“A global event like the World EXPO allows our delegation of universities to present Czechia as a confident, competitive country and an educational hub of Central Europe. I believe this visit will help universities achieve their internationalisation goals and strengthen the benefits it brings to university leadership, academic staff, students and ultimately to society as a whole,” says Michal Uhl, Director of the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS).
Education Day will also reflect the central theme of the Czech participation, Talent and Creativity for Life, and present Czechia as a country that invests in education, science and human potential. “The participation of Czech universities at EXPO 2025 in Osaka is essential for us and naturally aligns with the vision of the Czech Pavilion. We see it as a unique opportunity to further strengthen academic ties between Czechia and Japan within the setting of a global showcase of innovation. We believe that EDU Day and its accompanying events will significantly contribute to forming new partnerships, deepening existing collaborations and promoting the potential of our education and research sectors on the international stage,” says Ondřej Soška, Commissioner General of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025.
Student Exchanges and Other Opportunities
At EXPO 2025, discussions will mainly focus on student exchanges and other opportunities for collaboration, ranging from cutting-edge research and technology to healthcare applications and cultural and language projects. Art schools with long-standing connections in Japan will also be involved. “Japan is a country with tremendous potential for us. We believe this mission will open doors to many inspiring projects and mutually enriching exchanges,” adds Libor Čapek, Rector of the University of Pardubice.
For art universities, communication with diverse cultures is especially inspiring and desirable. “The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (AMU) leads this exchange primarily through discipline-specific collaborations with Japanese universities and is also an institution that annually welcomes many Japanese students for internships or under bilateral agreements. Participating in Expo EDU Day is a welcome opportunity for us to engage in dialogue with Japanese culture and the artistic community, which has proven to be highly beneficial for both sides over the long term,” says Jitka Goriaux, Vice-Rector for International Relations, Artistic Activities and Doctoral Studies at AMU.
Innovative Potential of Czech Universities
Education Day will also feature presentations from university spin-off companies that connect research with practical applications, demonstrating how Czech universities successfully transfer scientific results into real-world solutions. A selection of innovative projects will be showcased, representing the forefront of Czech academia and its application potential: Lipidica, CaviPlasma, PinfLOW, BIOCEV, Nanoflexion, and Galochrom.
These companies focus on areas such as non-invasive diagnostics, advanced water purification technologies, sustainable energy solutions, biomolecular research, nanotechnology, and chemical sensors. During the day, there will be panel discussions, inspiring TED Talk-style presentations, and targeted individual meetings designed to connect the academic community and support the development of new forms of international cooperation; including exchange programs for students and faculty, research initiatives, and a variety of other projects. Their presentations at the World Expo will highlight the tangible impact of Czech research on society and strengthen opportunities for international collaboration with Japanese partners.
EXPO 2025 as a Global Showcase of the Future
The exhibition is taking place in Osaka from April 13 to October 13 under the motto Designing Future Society for Our Lives. Czechia is participating in the World Expo as an independent country for the sixth time. Since September 2022, Ondřej Soška has served as the Commissioner General. The pavilion’s design, shaped like a glass spiral, was chosen through an open architectural competition won by Apropos Architects in March 2023. The main structure is made of modern wooden CLT panels, while the facade features artistic glass, which has a several-century-long tradition in Czechia.
The national pavilion provides dignified facilities for the Czech participation at EXPO 2025, held from April to October 2025 on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay. The pavilion includes a permanent exhibition, a multifunctional auditorium called Daisue Hall, spaces for business meetings, a restaurant, the CTP lounge, and an outdoor relaxation area with a sea view for visitors. Cultural performances take place almost every weekend from Friday to Sunday. The pavilion was successfully certified at the beginning of April 2025 and is the largest wooden structure of its kind in Japan without a metal load-bearing frame. It officially opened to the public on April 13, 2025.
List of Czech universities participating in the exhibition: • Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (AMU)
• Brno University of Technology (VUT) • Charles University (UK) • Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT) • Mendel University in Brno (MENDELU) • Palacký University Olomouc (UPOL) • Prague University of Economics and Business (VŠE) • ŠKODA AUTO University (ŠAVŠ) • University of Hradec Králové (UHK)
• University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (JU) • Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (ČZU)
• Masaryk University (MU) • Tomas Bata University in Zlín (UTB) • University of Economics and Management (VŠEM) • University of Chemistry and Technology Prague (VŠCHT) • University of Ostrava (OU)
• University of Pardubice (UPCE) • University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (ZČU)
Spin-off companies: • Lipidica • CaviPlasma • PinfLOW • BIOCEV • Nanoflexion • Galochrom